CITIZENS' DEFENSE CORPS RANKS AND TITLES: United
States. World War II. A detailed systems of ranks and titles was developed by
the Office of Civilian Defense as part of the organization of volunteers for
community protection, as shown in Tables 1 through 3 below.

Table 5-1. Civil Defense Ranks and Insignia
Through Platoon Level

Service

One Triangle*

Two Triangles*

Three Triangles*

equivalent Army rank

Private 1st Class

Non-Commissioned Officer

Lieutenant

Air Raid Warden

First Class

Senior or Sector Warden

Zone Leader

Auxiliary Fireman

First Class

Squad Leader

Platoon Leader

Auxiliary Policeman

First Class

Squad Leader

Platoon Leader

Bomb Squad

First Class

Squad Leader

---

Rescue Squad

First Class

Squad Leader

Depot Leader

Medical Field Units

First Class

Team Leader

Squad Leader

Medical Auxiliaries (Stretcher Teams)

First Class

Team Leader

Squad Leader

Nurses' Aides

---

---

---

Emergency Food and Housing

First Class

Unit Leader

Depot Leader

Drivers Units

First Class

Convoy Leader

Depot Leader

Messengers

First Class

Senior Messenger

Platoon Leader

Road Repair Crews

First Class

Crew Leader

Depot Leader

Demolition and Clearance

First Class

Crew Leader

Depot Leader

Decontamination Squads

First Class

Squad Leader

Station Leader

Fire Watchers

---

---

---

Repair Crews

First Class

Crew Leader

Service Leader

Local Staff

First Class

as required

as required

State Staff

First Class

as required

as required

United States Staff

First Class

as required

as required

* Note: Based on inspection of actual devices this triangle appears to
be a black triangle on a dark blue disc. This appears to be consistent
with the existing diagram of the rank structure which shows a black triangle.

** Note: Although no actual emblem has been encountered, the existing
rank chart shows a white triangle, and this insignia may be a white triangle on
a dark blue disc.

Table 5-3. Civil Defense Ranks and Insignia
Through Executive Level

Service

One Star***

Two Stars***

Three Stars***

Four Stars***

equivalent Army rank

Brigadier General

Major General

Lieutenant General

General

Local Staff

Coordinator

---

---

---

State Staff

Assistant Coordinator

Coordinator

---

---

United States Staff

as designated

as designated

Regional Director or Principal Assistants

United States Director

*** Note: Although no actual emblem has been encountered, the existing
rank chart shows a black star, and this insignia may be a black, red, or white star on a
dark blue disc.

Sources: United States, Office of Civilian Defense, A Handbook for Demolition and
Clearance Crews, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1941.
Item
04-1-US-21, armband, collection of The Physical Archive of Civil Defense, Richmond,
Virginia, United States of America, University of Richmond, The Physical Archive
of Civil Defense.